Chapter 68
Liars are the beginning of the story .
Getting straight to the point, two days passed quickly .
Um yeah, somehow, sorry about that . I’ll at least say that a lot of things happened in those 2 days . The I-came-from-another-world Maribelle was extremely excited and curious, frolicking around and even went shopping . Then in the next moment, she would return to my side saying ‘I’m supposed to be searching!’ while irrationally getting angry at me . And, in this relatively large city, I’d coincidentally run into that one friend that likes cute lolis, who stopped us to look at Maribelle . I panicked and ran away when it looked like he was trying to hit on her . A lot of things .
Even after searching till our legs may as well fall off, we found no clues or leads, so we walked around the area Maribelle first fell, but the third and last evening ended when Maribelle collapsed from heat and exhaustion . Shaking off I who thought it’s better to rest at home, she exclaimed ‘I should just search from the sky!’ and headed for the closest observation deck . In fact, she originally wanted to take to the skies herself, but that’s a no . In this world, there aren’t any humans who can fly, much less with huge white wings . If people say such a sight, it’d obviously become an outrageous situation, I desperately persuaded her, but it unfortunately fell on deaf ears . Maribelle was even willing to bet on the smallest chance of finding a hint . But I’m worried about the public eye over here! Please, anything but that! Pleading like a supporting servant character, dogeza and all, was a great asset in persuading her . [1] ‘Sto- Stop that!’ she replied startled .
The observation deck which doubles as a date spot was constructed as an open park, where we can view the area that I live . At this time, it’s pretty normal to see one or two couples, but oddly, today there were only the two of us .
“So you couldn’t find her . ”
“True… even though Lord Cleric said he’d definitely send me close . ”
Yeah . To be able to find my exact location, Lord Cleric is really amazing . In fact, if he was the one who had come over, I can’t help but think I’d be exposed in a heartbeat . While I felt relieved that it was Maribelle who came, I unconsciously began staring at her .
“Thinking about it, Itoka and Vito somehow sound similar . How strange . Even though you look so different . ”
BBadum
Shocked, my heart skip a beat .
“That, That’s right . We’re completely different . That child has tawny brown hair and blue eyes right? My hair and eyes are both black . “
“Yes, I know . Vito is more of a naturally airheaded but reliable older sister, while Itoka is fair-skinned and slender like a young noble boy, so if I were to pick out differences, it’s obvious they are different .
To think that I’d be a boy and not a girl, I might cry . In the first place, the real young noble boy is Maribelle, rather, Marius .
“But … you’re a little bit similar . The way you speak, the air around you . ”
Are you okay, Maribelle? Actually, am I ok? Just because her young lady chara[2] had been revealed, how can it be that she seems to be closer to the truth than before . But the time limit is near . If I just persevere till then, this tightrope situation of being exposed will end there .
Even then, to find me after all that time .
“…Do you like it?”
Wwwwhat are you hearing, me!! It seems the mental stress finally made me crazy! There’s no way I li, like it! That would be the obvious reply! Then I’d just be disappointed in secret! That’s it, tonight I’m stress eating!
“I do . I love it . ”
She just added on causally .
… Wha, What?! There’s no tsundere?! Do you have a fever Maribelle?! Oh no! A disaster is gonna happen! Eh? What’s up with this confession?
“Honestly, I don’t know if this feeling is me as Marius or Maribelle . But one thing’s for sure . Vito is a precious person to both I and me . ” [3]
Maribelle smiled kindly . It was both girly and boyish, a really beautiful smile . It just looked a little lonely . And the person who caused Maribelle to make such an expression is,
… undeniably, me . In actuality, I may want to scream . That I’m right here . But, there is also the feeling of not wanting her to be disillusioned, after seeing the real me . The me who isn’t a dragon, is just a weak and fragile human . One that can’t even use any magic or abilities, who’d just be a burden, holding others back . If such a me went back to that world, I’d be completely useless .
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―― But .
I was born and raised in this world . Then I just need to live in accordance with this world until I die . There’s no need to change that .
―― But, you see…
I am Itoka . Someone who suits the role of a knitting grandma, just a plain, normal human .
―― I want to say it . I’m right here .
As I looked at Maribelle, who was leaning over the handrails of the observation deck taking in the view, I realised she suddenly looked blur . I thought it was just dirt on my glasses, so I took them off and cleaned them, but I realised my glasses weren’t the problem . Straining my eyes to look carefully, it wasn’t blur, but Maribelle’s body becoming transparent allowing me to see the scenery behind her .
“Mar, Maribelle! You’re transparent!”
Surprised by what I said, Maribelle quickly checked her own body . As if understanding something, her eyes continued to stare at her two open palms .
“It’s already time…”
She murmured sadly .
“Itoka, I’ll at least say this . That, for helping me… thanks . ”
The setting sun illuminated her shy smile, sunk into the evening . The warmth of the day left, replaced by the cool evening breeze which gently shook her long, peach-coloured hair .
“I’m sorry I wasn’t able to help you . ”
I’m really, sorry .
“It’s fine, When I get back, I’ll look for another way . ”
But, you can’t come to this world again . Like this, we won’t be able to meet or talk ever again .
“I’m sorry, Maribelle . ”
“Like I said, you don’t need to—”
Apologise . Those words cut short with the sound of a sudden gasp . I was staring at the ground then, and wondering what happened, I looked up worrying that she might have already disappeared .
Maribelle with her eyes wide open, was still there .
―― Oh, this . It can’t be .
I’m sorry for deceiving you . I’m sorry for not saying anything . I’m really, really sorry . Such feelings, such thoughts, were expressed in my voice . And you noticed them?
No, it might just be my imagination, so I’ll check with Maribelle one more time, but her reaction is, unmistakable .
Within her large, navy blue gem eyes, the setting sun sparkled and shined . Her face slowly changed from one of surprise to one of conviction, and opened her mouth to speak, but being unable to clearly make out her words, I just looked at her with a bitter smile . Since this is the last time, it should be fine . More like, it’s a miracle that I wasn’t exposed earlier .
It’s almost time, I stepped back to watch over her as she disappeared .
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You must be disappointed .
I think, you won’t want to see me again .
I mean, I lied to you .
To pretend like I didn’t know, meant that I had rejected her . Maribelle definitely realised this . Because you realised, I noticed this .
That’s why, you are looking at me with such a sad face .
It was then .
“—Liar . ”
It was a low voice .
It was a sorrowful voice .
For some reason, I felt like crying .
I’m sorry, I wanted to say again for the n-th time, but as I opened my mouth, peach-coloured hair flew towards me, grabbing my shoulders . The smell of potpourri gently filled my nose, and arms were wrapped around my neck before I realised .
Even with her being right in front of my face, I could still see the scenery through her body . Her feet may have already completely disappeared . But with my head being held in a fixed position, I had no way to check or confirm that .
Maribelle was, no, Marius was laughing wickedly behind me . [4]
“But, I’m also a liar”
What, does that mean? As I made a weird face, I was laughed at again .
“It’s a lie that I can’t come again . ”
… Yes?
“I did think it was weird . Someone acknowledged my story, and even brought me to her home . There’s a limit to how nice people are . That’s why I thought there must be something different . I didn’t expect it to be the person herself though . ”
…Eh? What’s going on?
“I missed you . Vito… heck, it’s obvious what I’ll say . I’ve been looking for you for so long!”
Towards me, who was deceiving you this whole time, you can still call me like that? Marius, who seemed to have realised what I was thinking, was astonished .
“Look here, no matter what you look like, Vito is Vito . —um, what was it now? Whatever it is, regardless of your origin, looks or figure, all that doesn’t matter now . The one who taught me that, was Vito wasn’t it? [Just because you are a man, won’t make me hate you . I don’t discriminate . Whatever you look like, whether you are Maribelle or Marius, you are a precious friend . That will never change . ] Don’t you remember saying that?”
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Marius, who managed to remember and repeat it all word for word, is scary! But, just maybe, this is what it felt like . I, was afraid of being exposed, of disappointing them, and of being scorned . And in the end, I was too afraid to tell anyone, becoming anxious about it all alone .
“That’s why, it does not matter . I’m sorry, too, for not being able to notice that you had a different appearance . ”
Oh, it seems like it’s about time . Marius sighed as he looked at his disappearing body, releasing me from his arms .
And take this, holding out something in his hand . It was a familiar letter . This, is what Mr Morris gave me, from Chiffon . I didn’t manage to read it after all, and it should have been left in that room, so I wonder why he has it . Marius made an incomprehensible expression,
“Chiffon said ‘Give it to her!’ and forced it on me”, he added .
…Those words, are more than enough . Marius was not the only one that believed I was ‘here’ . Chiffon believed too .
“I will come again to bring you back . Definitely . So wait for me!”
And I still need to give you a good punch, Marius smiled as he turned into a small light and disappeared, leaving behind those foreboding words .
I just stood there, clutching the letter, dumbfounded .
Clothes, my phone, water and food . Ah, would a banana count as a snack instead? Eh? It doesn’t? Tsk, there’s half-eaten chocolate on the table, let’s take that too .
All right, I’ve got my going-out backpack perfectly ready . Hm? Where am I going? Vacation in another world? Non non!
――- I’m running away, duh!
I’m not joking! I let my guard down thinking it was the last time! I want to scold the me from two days ago, who didn’t even doubt that they wouldn’t be able to come again! Coming to get me? You don’t have to! I finally had my normal days back in this peaceful place! And yet you declared that you are bringing me back . What else could I do besides run away?!
“The house door is locked, ah, I wonder if it is better to tell the neighbour …well, anything’s fine . ”
Since I’ll be staying out for a while, looking at the pathetic state of my allowance, a business hotel, no, an internet cafe sounds about right . It’s open 24 hours, and it doesn’t sound too bad to read manga till my brother returns . Taking my house keys, I head for the front door . With all the lights off, the dark and empty house, somewhat lonely . Usually, my parents, Honoknii, or Touka would be around, so a house without anyone felt new, but also, a little weird .
As I crouched to put on my shoes, fu, what fell into view, was Chiffon’s yet unread letter . At that time, as I rushed to take off my shoes, I must have left it here and forgotten about it . So I picked it up . “To Vito-chan” was written in embarrassingly cute round letters . It’s strange . It wasn’t written in Japanese, but I could still read it normally .
Cutting open the envelope, I was still hesitant to read it, but not reading after all this time feels bad for Chiffon, so I decided to read it . Inside the envelope, from the state of the paper and the blurred characters, it felt like a year had passed since it was written .
“Vito-chan, Hello…”
[Vito-chan, Hello! It’s Chiffon!
Writing a letter is a bit embarrassing . But I’ll write it because Ariade-chan said it’s a good way to practice writing . But I don’t really know what to write, so I’ll tell you about me .
You see, I was clumsy, accident-prone, slow, and could only do things far behind other people . I used to be frustrated by it, but I don’t think that way now . Because I had Vito-chan and Ariade-chan! You two always taught me when I couldn’t remember our work properly, comforted me when I was feeling down, played together with me, chatted with me, and it was really very fun! I’m so glad I met the two of you!
I, when I found that Vito-chan was a dragon, I was a little scared . But I’m not scared anymore! If you look clearly, you are cutee! Your eyes are large and bright, just like a rabbit! And you can fly right? That’s amazing! I also want to fly in the sky!
How is the southern country? Nee-chan laughed at me when I said I wanted to go with you . She said it might be possible if you could ride a dragon, and maybe I could even become a knight . That’s another reason to have gone with Vito-chan! Work must be busy, but good luck! I’ll also work hard with cleaning! I’ll also work hard studying! Ah, right now, I’m studying something special . What special thing, is something for you to anticipate when you return . To be able to help Vito-chan, I’ll do my best!
Ariade-chan and Maribelle-chan both look so lonely, so let’s talk lots when you come back! We’ll go shopping with onee-chan again, and we’ll prepare good food, and have tea! I’ll be waiting!!
From Chiffon]
By the time I noticed, my tears had already rolled down my cheeks and fell onto the letter . Seeing Chiffon’s letter blurred, I quickly used my sleeves to wipe the tears off my face, and folded the letter again .
“I want to see you…”
I wanted to see that smile, that put up a brave front . The first friend I made after going to a human town was Chiffon . Without belittling the clueless me, she taught me many things . She accepted me, who was a dragon .
“Ah, damn . I shouldn’t have read the letter”
It makes me want to see you . Meet, and talk to you again . How laughable .
Still crouching, I hold my head to think . Only the ticking sounds from the wall clock could be heard, echoing in the silent doorway .
――― Just a little, let’s believe just a little .
The memories of me as a dragon .
I could continue to deny it . But these memories will probably never disappear from me . Then, I’ll accept it instead . So I whispered to myself .
Living life with the memories of a dragon . That too, is amusing . I release my head, a bitter smile on my face .
And then .
“WhWhat’s this?!”
Feeling something was off, I looked at my feet, to see a light pattern similar to when Touka and the rest disappeared . As if it was asserting its presence, shining conspicuously, it dyed the surroundings white . The doorway had suddenly been swallowed up by white, along with a horrible floating sensation that was intoxicating .
“Wait a minute! I did say I’d believe a little, but that was at most, just trying it out! I haven’t decided if I was going to really accept it yet—-!!”
My fruitless cry disappeared into the light .
Translation notes:
[1] References a popular prime time TV period drama; Dogeza: prostrate
[2] Lady chara: I’m not super sure what the author was trying to say, but I assume it means something like: Maribelle revealed that her girl side was not real, and being more open, somehow allowed her to be more sensitive to Itoka’s feelings .
[3] Uses ‘watashi’ and ‘boku’, which are different forms of saying ‘I’ to show that she’s speaking as both Maribelle and Marius
[4] Maribelle isn’t actually behind Itoka, but since we assume she hugged her, her head would be behind Itoka’s